Shield for use in applying eyelash makeup

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a device which may be used during the application or removal of eyelash makeup. The device consists of a body of plastic material which is formed with a lip at its upper end which projects a substantial distance outwardly from the remainder of the body. The lip has an arcuate curvature conforming generally to the curvature of the human eye and is disposed in a plane which is substantially at right angles to the plane of the remainder of the body. The outer edge of the lip extends in a plane which is substantially parallel with the remainder. The upper end of the body which extends between the lip and the remainder of the body is formed with a curvature so as to fit around the underside of the eyeball of the user.

United States Patent Bomba 3,789,856 Feb. 5, 1974 [76] Inventor: Zdenka Bomba, RR. 1 McCowan Rd., Agincourt, Ontario, Canada [22] Filed: Aug. 5, 1971 [21] Appl. No.2 169,289

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 9, 1971 Canada 115175 [52] US. Cl. 132/885 [51] Int. Cl A45d 40/30 [58] Field of Search 132/885, 88.7, 76.2, 79; 128/20; D86/l0 D, 10.1; 223/118 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,974,825 9/1934 Lovie 132/885 3,088,470 5/1963 Hall 132/79 Dl6l,144 12/1950 Wostmore D86/10 D D119,329 3/1970 Leyne D86/10 D Primary ExaminerI-lugh R. Chamblee Assistant Examiner-Gregory E. NcNeill Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Fetherstonhaugh & C0.

[ ABSTRACT The present invention provides a device which may be used during the application or removal of eyelash makeup. The device consists of a body of plastic material which is formed with a lip at its upper end which projects a substantial distance outwardly from the remainder of the body. The lip has an arcuate curvature conforming generally to the curvature of the human eye and is disposed in a plane which is substantially at right angles to the plane of the remainder of the body. The outer edge of the lip e ttends in a plane which is substantially parallel with the remainder. The upper end of the body which extends between the lip and the remainder of the body is formed with a curvature so as to fit around the underside of the eyeball of the user.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDFEB 51914 3,789,856

I N VENT OR.

ym/ rd ATTORNEYS SHIELD FOR USE IN APPLYING EYELASI-I MAKEUP FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to devices for use in the application of eye makeup. In particular, this invention relates to a device which is particularly suitable for use in the application or removal of eye makeup to the lower eyelashes.

PRIOR ART Numerous devices have previously been made for use as shields and the like when applying eye makeup such as mascara. Typical examples of these known devices are to be found in US. Pat. No. 1,873,928, dated Aug. 23, 1932 and issued to S.E. Bohner; U.S. Pat. No. 1,907,476, dated May 9, 1933 and issued to Ballard et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 1,974,825, dated Sept. 25, 1934 and issued to Lovie. The main problem with all of these devices is that they provide a sharp edge which is contoured to the curvature of the eyeball which is directed inwardly towards the eyeball in use. The inwardly directed edge is generally quite thin, with the result that the user can experience considerable discomfort if the device is not held stationary in exactly the correct position. As discussed in these prior patents, one of the principal reasons for using a device with a thin edge is to achieve the effect of rolling the lower eyelash downwardly onto the outer surface of the device so that the makeup can be applied when the eyelash is located on the surface of the device. As a result of this practice, a substantial quantity of mascara ends up being applied to the device rather than to the eyelashes and consequently considerably more mascara is used than is actually required.

SUMMARY The present invention overcomes the difficulties of the prior art described above by providing a device which consists of a body of plastic material which is formed at its upper end with a lip which projects a substantial distance outwardly from the remainder of the body. The lip has an arcuate curvature conforming generally to the curvature of the human eye and it is disposed in a plane which is substantially at right angles to the plane of the remainder of the body. The outer edge of the lip extends in a plane which is substantially parallel to the remainder of the body. The upper end of the body which extends between the lip and the remainder of the body is formed with a curvature so as to fit around the underside of the eyeball of the user.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention will be more clearly understood with reference to the following detailed specification read in conjunction with the drawings wherein FIG. 1 is a front view of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a pictorial side view of the device of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a partially sectioned side view illustrating the manner in which the device is used.

With reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the reference numeral refers generally to a device for use in the application of eye makeup according to an embodiment of the present invention. The device is preferably formed from a unitary body of plastic material such as polyethylene or the like. The selection of the material from which the device is to be molded will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the upper end 12 of the body is formed with a lip portion 14 which projects a substantialdistance X outwardly from the remainder of the body. The distance X is preferably in the range of one-sixteenth to three-sixteenth inch and generally about one-eighth of an inch. As shown in FIG. I, the lip portion 14 has an arcuate curvature conforming generally to the curvature of the human eyeball. The lip portion 14 is adapted to extend at about to the remainder of the body portion identified by the reference numeral 18 and the outer edge 16 of the lip is preferably disposed subsantially parallel to the plane of the remainder of the body portion 18. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, the portion of the upper end of the body which extends between the lip and the remainder of the body is formed with a curvature so that it fits in a close fitting relationship with respect to the curvature of the eyeball without pressure and does not cause discomfort to the user.

As shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the device is used by positioning the lip portion 14 in a position underlying the lower eyelid and conforming to the curvature of the eyeball so that the lower eyelashes 20 project outwardly over the outer edge 16 of the device so that makeup may be applied to the eyelashes by a conventional brush 22 or eyelashes may be cleaned by a conventional cream or liquid.

The body of the device serves as a guard to prevent mascara from being applied to the face of the wearer.

The lip 14 is of particular importance to the device of the present invention as it provides an edge 16 which is outwardly directed with respect to the eyeball of the wearer when the device is in use. As a result, the edge 16 does not tend to dig into the eyeball of the wearer and does not therefore, cause discomfort. On the contrary, the portion of the device which bears against the eyeball of the wearer is contoured to conform generally to the shape of the eyeball and the curvature of this portion is such that it does not cause discomfort to the wearer. In the emboidment shown, this curved portion is identified by the reference numeral 19 and extends between the lip 14 and the remainder of the body 18. It is also important to ensure that the lip 14 has a sufficient length to project outwardly from the hollow cavity which underlies the eyeball a distance sufficient to underlie the lower eyelash. It has been found that this distance, shown at X in FIG. 2, should preferably be about three-eights of an inch so that when the device is used with the lower portion of the body obliquely disposed with respect to the cheek of the wearer so that it can be manually engaged, the edge 16 will be disposed in an underlying relationship with respect to the lower eyelash.

Various modifications of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of this invention. For example, the width of the main body portion may be substantially uniform over its entire length rather than tapered as shown in the drawings. Furthermore, the lower end of the body portion may have a slight concave construction in cross-section so as to add rigidity to the body.

From the aforegoing, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a simple and inexpensive device for use in the application or removal of eye makeup which is easy to use without discomfort and without the fear of causing eye injury as a result of the use of inwardly directed device.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A device for use in the application of eye makeup comprising,

a body of plastic material having an upper end, a lower end, an inner surface and an outer surface, the upper end of said body curving outwardly from the remainder of the body, the inner surface of said upper end having a concave curvature decreasing progressively in its radius of gyration in a direction away from said main body to a plane in which the concave curvature conforms generally to the curvature of the human eyeball, and a lip portion proa projected length extending from said plane of at least about 0.064 inches.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the projected length of said lip is substantially uniform across the width of the device and is in the range of about 0.064 to 0.192 inches.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lower end of the body has a width which is substantially less than the width of the upper end and the upper end of the body tapers in width towards the lower end. 

1. A device for use in the application of eye makeup comprising, a body of plastic material having an upper end, a lower end, an inner surface and an outer surface, the upper end of said body curving outwardly from the remainder of the body, the inner surface of said upper end having a concave curvature decreasing progressively in its radius of gyration in a direction away from said main body to a plane in which the concave curvature conforms generally to the curvature of the human eyeball, and a lip portion projecting outwardly from said plane, the inner surface of said lip having a concave curvature substantially equal to the concave curvature at said plane, and a sufficient projected length to underly a portion of the eyeball in use with the outer edge of the lip directed away from the surface of the eye of the user.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lip has a projected length extending from said plane of at least about 0.064 inches.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the projected length of said lip is substantially uniform across the width of the device and is in the range of about 0.064 to 0.192 inches.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lower end of the body has a width which is substantially less than the width of the upper end and the upper end of the body tapers in width towards the lower end. 